Lambert wants swift response

28 December 2012 01:30

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Paul Lambert insists there is no point dwelling on the nightmare start to the festive period as they aim to get back on track in against Wigan.

Villa were comprehensively brushed aside 8-0 at Chelsea last weekend - their biggest-ever defeat in the Premier League era - before being outplayed 4-0 at home by Tottenham on Boxing Day.
The double whammy, which came after a solid six-match unbeaten run that included a 3-1 win at Liverpool, leaves Villa in 19th place in the table at the halfway stage of the season, just three points above tomorrow's opponents Wigan, who currently occupy the final relegation spot.
But Lambert, as positive as ever, insists the only way is forward and not back.

"I think I have always said that even when you win you let it go as quick as you can. You have to get it out of your system - the two defeats - as best we can," he said.

"If someone had said you'd take three points from Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham I think everyone would bite your hand off.

"But because you've been smacked twice everyone thinks 'oh, here we go' but I can't let two games distract from what we are trying to build here."
Lambert added:

"You have to respond. There's no point in going out there and feeling sorry for yourself given the amount of people who come and watch us.

"We have to to try to rectify it and that's what we'll do. We are hurt like anyone else but you try not to beat yourself up about it."

Villa are certainly facing a defining month-long period in their season with their next four league games against Wigan, Swansea, Southampton and West Brom coming amid a two-legged Capital One Cup semi-final versus Bradford and an FA Cup tie at home to Ipswich.
But, as far as the immediate short-term is concerned, Lambert is happy to see the games coming quickly as the club look to respond to embarrassing back-to-back defeats.

"That's the good thing about it, you've only got a couple of days before you go again," he said.

"And after this one (Wigan) it's the same for the Swansea game.

"The games are on you thick and fast."

The midlands outfit have undoubtedly struggled due to injury this season, with defender Nathan Baker the latest to enter the treatment room after he was forced off with a hamstring problem just before half-time against Spurs.
Baker joins captain Ron Vlaar (calf), Gabriel Agbonlahor (thigh), Charles N'Zogbia (knee), Darren Bent (hamstring), Richard Dunne (groin) and Andreas Weimann (calf) on the sidelines.
It has meant Lambert, in his first season at the helm, has ever-increasingly had to turn to youth, but the Scot is adamant that is not the reason for his side's struggles this term.

"As I've said before, over the last few years this club has had loads of experienced players and the situation has not really changed," he said.

"Experienced players won't always take you where you want to go. I know that from my own experience, I've got a belief in the way we are doing it in the long-term this club will be great.

"There's no point me saying we're down there because of inexperience. This club was battling against relegation last season."